If you manage a website in 2025, digital accessibility isn’t optional, it’s essential. Not only because it improves user experience for everyone, but because new regulations in the EU now require it by law. Here’s what you need to know about the WCAG standards and the European Accessibility Act.
What is WCAG?
WCAG stands for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. It’s a set of international standards that define how to make web content more accessible to people with disabilities - whether they use screen readers, keyboards instead of a mouse, or require visual or cognitive support.
The guidelines are developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), and are organized into three levels:
- Level A – Basic accessibility requirements
- Level AA – The level most organizations are legally expected to meet
- Level AAA – Advanced accessibility for maximum inclusion
The latest version is WCAG 2.2, which expands on prior versions with better support for mobile users and people with cognitive or learning disabilities.
What Do WCAG Guidelines Cover?
The WCAG guidelines address a wide range of barriers. Some key areas include:
- Providing alternative text for images
- Ensuring full keyboard navigability
- Maintaining sufficient color contrast for readability
- Labeling forms and inputs clearly
- Avoiding unexpected content shifts and inaccessible modals
In short, WCAG is about making sure your website works for as many people as possible, regardless of ability.
What Is the European Accessibility Act (EAA)?
The European Accessibility Act is a major EU regulation that requires digital products and services to be accessible to people with disabilities. It goes into full effect in June 2025, and applies to both public and private sector businesses operating in the EU.
That includes, but is not limited to:
- All public facing websites where information provision is the main feature
- Online stores and eCommerce platforms
- Banking and financial websites
- Booking and travel services
- Media and entertainment services
Importantly, the law also applies to non-EU companies that sell digital products or services to customers in the EU.
What Are the Risks of Non-Compliance?
Failure to comply with the EAA and WCAG standards can result in:
- Regulatory fines and penalties
- Legal challenges or lawsuits
- Reputational damage
- Loss of potential customers or users
With enforcement beginning in mid-2025, the time to address accessibility gaps is now.
What Should You Do Next?
If your website or digital product serves users in the EU, here are the key steps:
- Audit your website using WCAG 2.2 (Level AA) as the benchmark
- Fix identified issues, focusing on high-impact areas like navigation, forms, media, and color contrast
- Implement ongoing monitoring, as accessibility needs to be maintained continuously, not just once
Solutions like Askem can streamline this process by scanning your website, identifying violations, and offering actionable fixes to help you stay compliant.
Final Thoughts
Accessibility is more than a legal checkbox; it’s a core part of building ethical, inclusive, and user-friendly digital experiences. The new EU laws are pushing accessibility to the forefront, but they’re ultimately a step toward a better web for everyone.
Need help getting compliant? That’s exactly what Askem is built for.
